Collection Overview

History professor. Over 200 Polish circus, theatre, opera and operetta posters from the 1960s to 1985.

Access: This collection is open for research.

Use:
Copyright restrictions may apply; please consult Special Collections staff for further information.

Acquisition:
These posters were donated to the University of Iowa Libraries by Dr. and Mrs. Pelenski in April 2000. In October 2006, 31 duplicate posters from the collection were exchanged for 31 circus posters from Contemporary Posters in New York City.

Jaroslaw Pelenski is Professor Emeritus of History, The University of Iowa. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Pelenski's frequently traveled to Eastern Europe and brought back to Iowa City theater, ballet, concert, film, circus, and other posters from Poland.

The Christina and Jaroslaw Pelenski collection contains over 200 posters from Poland. These include circus posters from the 1960s, 1970s, and early 1980s, as well as theatre, opera, operetta, and film posters from the 1960s to 1980. It was donated to the Special Collections Department in April 2000. In October 2006, 31 duplicate posters from the collection were exchanged for 31 circus posters from Contemporary Posters in New York City.

Four 1976 envelopes from Muzeum Plakatu w Wilanowie for artists Jan J. Aleksium, Jerzy Czerniakwski, Jan Sawka, and Eugeniusz Stankiewicz. Each envelope contains a portrait and brief biography of the artist and several sheets reproducing designs by the artist.